Match of the Week: Cup delight for Blackforge

BLACKFORGE FC rounded off a cracking season in the UCFL by adding the Challenge Cup to the Richard Knight Cup and promotion from Division 1 to the Premier Division, when they beat Malahide United 1-0 in Frank Cooke Park on Saturday evening reports John Mooney.

These two had met in the Knight Cup semi final just two weeks ago and the scoreline was the same and, on Saturday, the Forge were full value for the win even if it was by a slender margin.

Hero of the evening was Anthony Griffiths who bagged the all important winner, and picked up the man-of-the-match award, when he controlled a Jonathan Massey cross, gave keeper Brian Kane the eyes and slotted home beyond his reach.

That goal came just seven minutes into the second half and although the Forge were expecting a backlash from United, who had won the Premier Division, it never materialised and, really, they just had to make sure they didn’t make any unforced mistakes to see the game out.

Coaches Keith Gunning and Shane Mulraney have done nothing but win since they started with the Forge just three seasons ago, and if they can add to their strong squad they will be a match for anyone next season in the top Division.

This game was a really cagey affair with the Forge putting up a brick wall in front of United, and denying them the space they like to exploit in order to crush their opponents.

However, there was very little goal mouth action to talk about in the opening half as each side had slim chances to break the deadlock, with Jamie Walsh of Malahide being denied by John Mills and Ian Cowzer and Darren Goode being denied by Kane.

But this game exploded inside the opening seven minutes of the second half as Blackforge burst out of their defensive shell, created the key opening and scored, more or less controlled the half, and bagged the top prize in the UCFL.

It was a bitter end to the season for Malahide who, at one point, looked like winning all before them.

But with key players missing on the day and centre back Gavin Murphy going off with an injury at half time, the odds always looked like they stacked against them and the Forge were always going to take full advantage.

BLACKFORGE FC: J. Mills, J. Collazo, E. Connor, D. Goode, A. Griffiths, cC . Harkin, A. King, J. Massey, P. Massey, I. Cowzer, K. Byrne, D. Durgess, T. Doran, D. Keane, J. Roe, S. May, S. Murray, S. Nugent, C. O’Callaghan, M. Plunkett, A. Sheridan, C. Shone, K. Smith.